Method, apparatus and system providing a storage gate pixel with high dynamic range

ABSTRACT

A method, apparatus and system are described providing a high dynamic range pixel. An integration period has multiple sub-integration periods during which charges are accumulated in a photosensor and repeatedly transferred to a storage node, where the charges are accumulated for later transfer to another storage node for output.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to imager devices, and more particularly to a pixel having increased dynamic range.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An imager, for example, a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imager, includes a focal plane array of pixels; each cell includes a photo-conversion device, for example, a photogate, photoconductor or a photodiode overlying a substrate for producing a photo-generated charge in a doped region of the substrate. A readout circuit is provided for each pixel and includes at least a source follower transistor and a row select transistor for coupling the source follower transistor to a column output line. The pixel also typically has a floating diffusion node, connected to the gate of the source follower transistor. Charge generated by the photo-conversion device is sent to the floating diffusion node. The imager may also include a transistor for transferring charge from the photo-conversion device to the floating diffusion node and another transistor for resetting the floating diffusion node to a predetermined charge level prior to charge transference.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a CMOS imager device 208 having a pixel array 200 with each pixel being constructed as described above. Pixel array 200 comprises a plurality of pixels arranged in a predetermined number of columns and rows. The pixels of each row in array 200 are all turned on at the same time by a row select line, and the pixels of each column are selectively output by respective column select lines. A plurality of row and column lines are provided for the entire array 200. The row lines are selectively activated in sequence by the row driver 210 in response to row address decoder 220 and the column select lines are selectively activated in sequence for each row activated by the column driver 260 in response to column address decoder 270. Thus, a row and column address is provided for each pixel. The CMOS imager 208 is operated by the control circuit 250, which controls address decoders 220, 270 for selecting the appropriate row and column lines for pixel readout, and row and column driver circuitry 210, 260, which apply driving voltage to the drive transistors of the selected row and column lines. The pixel output signals typically include a pixel reset signal, Vrst, taken off the floating diffusion node when it is reset and a pixel image signal, Vsig, which is taken off the floating diffusion node after charges generated by an image are transferred to it. The Vrst and Vsig signals are read by a sample and hold circuit 265 and are subtracted by a differential amplifier 267 that produces a signal Vrst-Vsig for each pixel, which represents the amount of light impinging on the pixels. This difference signal is digitized by an analog to digital converter 275. The digitized pixel signals are then fed to an image processor 280 to form a digital image. The digitizing and image processing can be performed on or off the chip containing the pixel array.

Image sensors, such as an image sensor employing the conventional pixels described above, as well as sensors employing other pixel architectures, have a characteristic light dynamic range. Light dynamic range refers to the range of incident light that can be accommodated by an image sensor in a single frame of pixel data. It is desirable to have an image sensor with a high light dynamic range to image scenes that generate high light dynamic range incident signals, such as indoor rooms with windows to the outside, outdoor scenes with mixed shadows and bright sunshine, night-time scenes combining artificial lighting and shadows, and many others.

Image sensors also have a characteristic electrical dynamic range, commonly defined as the ratio of its largest non-saturating signal to the standard deviation of the noise under dark conditions. The electrical dynamic range is limited on an upper end by the charge saturation level of the sensor and on a lower end by noise imposed limitations and/or quantization limits of the analog to digital converter used to produce the digital image. When the light dynamic range of an image sensor is too small to accommodate the variations in light intensities of the imaged scene, e.g., by having a low light saturation level, the full range of the image scene is not reproduced. The illumination-voltage profile of the conventional pixel is typically linear, as shown in FIG. 2, which illustrates an illumination v. output voltage graph of a prior art pixel. A pixel's maximum voltage Vout-max may be reached at a relatively low level of illumination I_(max-1) which causes the pixel to be easily saturated, thus limiting the dynamic range of the pixel.

When the incident light captured and converted into a charge by the photosensor during an integration period is greater than the capacity of the photosensor, excess charge may overflow and be transferred to adjacent pixels. This undesirable phenomenon is known as blooming, or charge cross talk, and results in a bright spot in the output image. Furthermore, the output of each cell in an array of image pixels may vary even under uniform illumination due to inherent variations in the physical makeup of each pixel, such as slight differences in threshold voltages of transistors. These differences cause additional defects in the output image referred to as fixed pattern noise.

Imager pixels, including CMOS imager pixels, typically have low signal-to-noise ratios and narrow dynamic range because of their inability to fully collect, transfer, and store the full extent of electric charge generated by the photosensitive area of the photo-conversion device. Since the amplitude of the electrical signals generated by any given pixel in a CMOS imager is very small, it is especially important for the signal-to-noise ratio and dynamic range of the pixel to be as high as possible. Generally speaking, these desired features are not attainable without additional devices that increase the size of the pixel. Therefore, there is a need for an improved pixel for use in an imager that provides high signal to noise ratio and high dynamic range while maintaining a small pixel size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional CMOS imager.

FIG. 2 is an illumination v. voltage graph of a conventional pixel.

FIG. 3 is a schematic circuit diagram of a storage gate pixel with an anti-blooming gate according to an exemplary of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an integration period timing diagram in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an illumination v. voltage graph of a pixel constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a CMOS imager incorporating at least one pixel constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a processor system incorporating at least one imager device constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof and illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In the drawings, like reference numerals describe substantially similar components throughout the several views. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and that structural, logical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The terms “wafer” and “substrate” are to be understood as including silicon, silicon-on-insulator (SOI), or silicon-on-sapphire (SOS) technology, doped and undoped semiconductors, epitaxial layers of silicon supported by a base semiconductor foundation, and other semiconductor structures, as well as insulating substrates, such as quartz or glass. Furthermore, when reference is made to a “wafer” or “substrate” in the following description, previous process steps may have been utilized to form regions or junctions in the base semiconductor structure or foundation. In addition, the semiconductor need not be silicon-based, but could be based on silicon-germanium, germanium, or gallium-arsenide.

The term “pixel” refers to a picture element unit cell containing a photo-conversion device and other devices for converting electromagnetic radiation to an electrical signal. For purposes of illustration, a representative pixel is illustrated in the figures and description herein, and typically fabrication of all pixels in an image sensor will proceed simultaneously in a. similar fashion.

Embodiments described herein relate to imager circuits and pixels which employ shutter gate transistors and associated storage regions. Such structures are shown, for example, in co-pending U.S. patent application Nos. 10/721,190 and 10/721,191, each assigned to Micron Technology , Inc. These patents are incorporated herein by reference.

Referring now to the drawings, where like elements are designated by like reference numerals, FIG. 3 illustrates, partially as a representative semiconductor section and partially as an electrical schematic diagram, a circuit for a pixel 300 of a CMOS imager according to an embodiment. The pixel 300 includes a photosensor, e.g., a photodiode 302, shutter gate transistor 304, storage node 306, doped barrier regions 308, transfer gate transistor 310, anti-blooming transistor 312, floating diffusion node 322, and a reset and readout circuit 315 including reset transistor 314, source follower transistor 320 and row select transistor 318. PD 316 represents the charge capacity of the photodiode 302. The storage node 306 preferably has a charge storage capacity greater than that of the photodiode 302 charge capacity 316.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a timing diagram of an integration period of the pixel 300 (FIG. 3) according to an embodiment. The photodiode 302 is reset by a pulse AB at the anti-blooming transistor gate at t1. Preferably, the AB signal level is dropped to a low positive voltage to operate as an anti-blooming gate at t2. As shown in FIG. 4, AB is held at a constant voltage of about 0.3V for the remainder of the integration period (t2-t5). The photodiode 302 generates charges that are accumulated and transferred to the storage node 306 via the storage gate 304 in multiple transfers. The charges are gathered in a series of sub-integration periods. The number of sub-integration periods may vary. FIG. 4 shows three sub-integration periods, S₁, S₂, and S₃, but more or fewer sub-integration periods may be used. At the end of each sub-integration period, the charge accumulated by the photodiode is transferred to the storage node by respective pulses SG applied to the storage gate. Since the gate voltage on the anti-blooming transistor is constant, the charge capacity 316 of the photodiode 302 remains (Vpin−VAB1)*CPD during the sub-integration periods S₁, S₂, and S₃. Accordingly, the storage node 306 may preferably have a charge storage capacity of at least about twice the charge storage capacity of the photodiode 302, though a lesser storage capacity for the storage node also may be employed.

The lengths of sub-integration periods S₁, S₂, and S₃ are determined by the timing of the SG pulses, and may be equal or different in duration. In the illustrated embodiment, the sub-integration period lengths decrease sequentially as shown in FIG. 4. The sub-integration periods could uniformly be equal or have sequentially increasing lengths.

FIG. 5 shows the illumination v. output signal graph resulting from the timing diagram illustrated in FIG. 4. The light dynamic range is increased from Imax-1 to Imax-2. The maximum output signal can be increased from Vout-max1 to Vout-max2 due to storage node 306 having sufficient capacity to store multiple charge transfers from photodiode 302.

As charge is being transferred from photodiode 302 to storage node 306, the floating diffusion node 322 is reset during the same integration frame for a correlated double sampling (CDS) operation. After the floating diffusion node 322 is reset, the reset condition of node 322 is applied to the gate of source follower transistor 320 for a reset readout through row select transistor 318. Once the charge transfers for sub-integration periods S₁, S₂, and S₃ are complete, the charge residing at storage node 306, i.e., the sum of all charges transferred from the photodiode 302 collected during the sub-integration periods S₁, S₂, and S₃, is transferred to the floating diffusion node 322 by the transfer gate 310. From the floating diffusion node 322 the charge is applied to the gate of source follower transistor 320 for readout through row select transistor 318.

The pixel illumination v. output signal graph of FIG. 5 is based on the timing diagram of FIG. 4. The slope of the line representing Vout, corresponds to the length of each sub-integration period. As the sub-integration periods S₁, S₂, and S₃ (in FIG. 4) subsequently shorten, the slope decreases at the respective illumination levels. In one operational embodiment, the varying lengths of sub-integration periods S₁, S₂, and S₃ create angles, or “knees,” in the illumination-voltage profile of the device and increase the dynamic range of the pixel, as shown in FIG. 5. Accordingly, the maximum saturation Imax-2 is reached at a greater level of illumination than that of the pixel of prior art, Imax-1, shown in FIG. 2.

Achieving a high dynamic range mode through multiple charge transfers while keeping a constant voltage on the gate of the anti-blooming transistor allows for a reduction in fixed pattern noise at the knee points. As the anti-blooming gate voltage is kept at a known constant for all pixels, deviations attributable to fixed pattern noise can be reliably determined and subtracted out in subsequent pixel signal processing through means known in the art, for example, using a processor which searches a lookup table.

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of a CMOS imager device 608 including a pixel array 600 having pixels 300 constructed according to one embodiment. The CMOS imager device 608 includes peripheral circuitry including sample and hold circuit 675, amplifier 667, analog to digital converter 675, image processor 680, column and row decoders 670,620, and column and row drivers 670,610, which operates substantially in accordance with the above description of CMOS imager device 208 (FIG. 1). The CMOS imager 608 is operated by the control circuit 650, which controls address decoders 620, 670 for selecting the appropriate row and column lines for pixel readout, row and column driver circuitry 610, 660, which apply driving voltage to the drive transistors of the selected row and column lines, and controls voltage application to pixel transistors (not shown) to achieve desired successive integration periods and charge transfers between storage and floating diffusion nodes. Control circuit 650 may also control application of voltage to the anti-blooming transistors (not shown).

FIG. 7 shows an image processor system 700, for example, a still or video digital camera system, which includes an imaging device 608 employing pixels 300 constructed in accordance with one embodiment. The imager device 608 may receive control or other data from system 700. System 700 includes a processor 702 having a central processing unit (CPU) that communicates with various devices over a bus 704. Some of the devices connected to the bus 704 provide communication into and out of the system 700; one or more input/output (I/O) devices 706 and imager device 808 are such communication devices. Other devices connected to the bus 704 provide memory, illustratively including a random access memory (RAM) 710, and one or more peripheral memory devices such as a removable memory drive 714. The imager device 608 may be constructed as shown in FIG. 6 with the pixel array 200 having pixels 300. The imager device 608 may, in turn, be coupled to processor 702 for image processing, or other image handling operations. Examples of processor based systems, which may employ the imager device 608, include, without limitation, computer systems, camera systems, scanners, machine vision systems, vehicle navigation systems, video telephones, surveillance systems, auto focus systems, star tracker systems, motion detection systems, image stabilization systems, and others.

It is again noted that the above description and drawings illustrate embodiments that achieve the objects, features, and advantages as may be provided by various embodiments of the present invention. It is not intended that the present invention be limited to the illustrated embodiments. Any modification of the present invention which comes within the spirit and scope of the following claims should be considered part of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited by the foregoing description or drawings, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A method of operating a pixel, the method comprising: accumulating a first amount of charge in a photosensor for a first period of time; transferring the first amount of charge to a storage node; accumulating a second amount of charge in the photosensor for a second period of time; transferring the second amount of charge to the storage node, said storage node accumulating said first and second amounts of charge; and, transferring the first and second accumulated amounts of charge from the storage node to a floating diffusion node. 2-35. (canceled) 